West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-04-29
THE PRIEST A CITIZEN.

sumes TO be CatnOllc paper 1T must
obey the injunction which the Third
Plenary Council placed in all Cath
Ollie writer's to refrain from attack
ing publicly the manner in which
any Bishop rules his diocese. The
Herald, which is warm supporter
of DIR. McGlynn, has made some de-
termined assaults on the Archbish-
OPP. The later declares that the
Herald utterances have been shock
ingly scan1alous. If this warning is
not obeyed, the paper will be pub
licly denounced from every Ctaholic
pulpit in the city.
The n. Y. Standard managed to
obtain a copy of the recent letter by
Archbishop Corrigan to the pro-
prietor of the Catholic Herald.
The substance of the letter is given
by the above paragraph. which is
being copied by different metropoli-
tan papers without due credit to the
Standard. This letter deserves more
than passing notice. DR.. M'Glynn,
the most popular priest in New York
and with the largest church in that
city, entertains certain political
views which do not happen to ac-
cord with the opinions Of the Arch
bishop. Moved by a conviction that
it would tend to relieve the distresses
of the poorer classes, and the class OF
least influence and of least intelli.
gence, DR.. MGlynn on several oc-
casions appeared upon the platform
to advocate his views. 1t was not
his appearance on the platform that
brought objection from the Arch.
bishop; the objection was to the pro.
mitigation OF opinions so unpalatable
to the wealthier classes in \. Y
DR.. M;Glynn distinguishes, and cor.
rectly distinguishes, between the
priest and the citizen. His duties in
the one capacity in nowise conflict
with his duties in the other, and the
former are as sacred as the latter. His
duty as citizen made it imperative
as far as he had power and opportu.
nifty, to give his fellow citizens the
benefit of his views and the service
of his advice. Our whole politica
fabric is based on the idea of free
and open discussion. To for
bid discussion is to strike al
the very corner stone of onr iustitu
tions. 1t is incompatible with oul
form of government that we should
have q class of citizens forbidden t.
take part in political discussion. Sc
long as discussion nc untraInmeicd
truth and right views grow stronger
and error falls to the ground. The
contrary of these propositions will
not be tolerated in this country for q
moment. If the day ever comes
when it is tolerated, then that
thing called representative govern
ment is ut an end.
A very small proportion Of Amer
lean Catholics are in accord with
Mr.. Georges theory as to the own
ersbip of land and in so far as Dr.
MGlynn agrees with Mr.. George on
this subject. he will not be followed
by any considerable portion of lis
church. Butitis very safe to say that
an overwhelming majority Of intelli
gent Catholics are in perfect accord
with DR.. MGiynn in so far as he de.
MES the right of Rome to NEEDLE
with the political views or conduct
of an American citizen, be he priest
or layman. The Catholic Herald
has been notified that it will be de-
nounced from every Catholic pulpit
in y. y. if it continues to criticize
the position assumed by the Arch
bishop Corrigan. II the Herald
has ability sufficient to bring this
issue squarely home to the compre-
hension of American Catholics, the
Archbishop must recede or else
Rome will lose its hold in this coun-
try. The more intelligent of Amer
lean Catholics will never consent
that foreign power shall dictate
their politics. In this matter of DIR.
MGlynn, the Holy Father has been
previously misinformed.
In the words of Daniel O'Conncll,
-"all our religion from Rome but
none Of our politics"
4 a newspaper reporter published
that President Cleveland has an
nounced IN intention not to be q